Richmond man found dead after fall in Berkeley hills

BERKELEY -- A 24-year-old Richmond man, who had been drinking with friends Wednesday night and went off alone, climbed to the top of a rock outcropping and fell 60 feet to his death, police said.

UC Berkeley police Capt. Stephen Roderick identified the man as Jonathan Mendiola Urbina. Roderick said the man and four of his buddies were drinking alcohol at a popular viewpoint and hangout spot on Grizzly Peak Boulevard when two of the men went off to urinate.

One returned to the group, but Urbina apparently walked up to the large rock, lost his footing and fell. His friends reported him missing about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, and his body was found about an hour later, police said.

Police are calling the death an accident but are cautioning people about walking around at night in the area.

"It's never a good idea to drink (alcohol) and do any physical activity," said UC Berkeley police Capt. Margo Bennett.

The fall happened on UC Berkeley property, but no one in the group is a Cal student, police said.

"It's common for people to go up there to look at the view and drink and unfortunately people lose their footing," Roderick said.

Original reports late Wednesday night classified the dead man as a hiker. Police said those reports are not accurate. The group had pulled up to the area in a car and were sitting on logs and partying before the accident.

"There's a lot of people up there all the time," Roderick said.

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Police said the group was cooperative with police and gave consistent statements about what happened. No arrests were made. Both Oakland and Berkeley fire departments were called to the scene to assist police.